Manuka honey continues to gain popularity today because of its amazing healing properties. Produced almost exclusively from New Zealand by bees that pollinate flowers of the mānuka plant, manuka honey contains powerful natural antibacterial properties.

Although most honey contains various amounts of methylglyoxal, an organic antibacterial compound, manuka honey has more of this compound because of the makeup of the mānuka plant. Therefore, it contains more potent antibacterial properties. As soon as it was discovered in the 1980s, researchers came up with a standardized system called Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) to measure the medicinal strength of each batch of honey. Those with UMF ratings of 10+ and higher are considered the most beneficial ones.

If you’re still not convinced to stock up on it now, here are four of manuka honey’s potent healing properties:

• It’s good for healing wounds – It is said that manuka honey helps wounds heal faster. In fact, studies have shown that it can accelerate the healing process of minor cuts and scrapes. A study published in the International Journal of Biomaterials found that combining manuka honey with other preparation materials on wounds helped activate and speed up the ability of skin cells to regenerate.
• It’s effective against infection – All types of honey have some antibacterial properties in them. However, researchers in Australia and New Zealand found that manuka honey, out of four types of honey tested, was the most effective in slowing and reducing infection caused by common bacteria, such as Staphylococcus and E. coli. (Related: Manuka honey may be the future of antibacterial superbug medicine.)
• It can be used to treat a sore throat – Adding a teaspoon of honey to your cup of tea can help soothe a sore throat. Yet, adding manuka honey instead of just any other honey can even be more beneficial. The elevated antibacterial properties of manuka honey help relieve the pain and kill the bacteria that cause it.
• It’s good for your skin – Another amazing health benefit of manuka honey is its skin-nourishing properties. You can apply manuka honey to the areas affected by eczema or sunburn to relieve their symptoms. It fights off bacteria and helps activate the growth of damaged skin tissue as well as increase the production of collagen. Manuka honey is also used in lip balms and other skincare products. It contains powerful moisturizing properties that nourish the skin. Putting on a manuka mask is a great addition to your skincare routine or an emergency relief from sudden skin dryness.

Choosing the right manuka honey

When buying manuka honey, you may see a lot of varieties of different qualities. High-quality and low-quality manuka honey are way different both in terms of their effectiveness and prices. A high-quality manuka honey can be used as a substitute for a low-quality one, but a low-quality manuka honey cannot be used in place of a high-quality one.

To help you out, here are some things you may consider when choosing a manuka honey:

1. For non-medicinal purposes, use low-grade manuka honey – If you are going to use it as a sweetener, manuka honey that has a UMF 5+ will do. Just make sure it is raw to ensure the greatest levels of beneficial antioxidants and enzymes.
2. For medicinal purposes, use a minimum of UMF 10+ – Manuka honey with grades lower than UMF 10+ do not have significant antibacterial activity levels, and may not be as effective.
3. If manuka honey will be diluted, use a high-grade one – Manuka honey is less effective when it is diluted because it loses its antibacterial activity. Use manuka honey with a minimum of UMF 15+ to maintain the antibacterial activity.

Learn more about the health benefits of manuka honey by going to Cures.news.

Sources include:

OrganicSpaMagazine.com

ManukaMeBetter.com